The Psychology of Dieting: Why Willpower Keeps Failing You

In today’s episode of Bite Back with Abbey Sharp, we unpack why knowing how to eat “healthy” doesn’t always translate into actually doing it. We explore the science of behaviour change, why willpower and motivation alone aren’t enough, and the many biological, psychological, social, and environmental factors shaping our food choices. If you’ve struggled to build healthy habits that actually stick, this episode is for you. Here’s a run down of what we discussed in today’s episode: Why Willpower Isn’t Enough for Healthy Eating Why Knowing What to Eat Doesn’t Mean You’ll Do It The Behaviour Science Behind Food Choices Why Old Eating Habits Are So Hard to Break How Your Brain Drives Food Cravings Identify What’s Actually Holding You Back Use “If-Then” Plans to Make Healthy Eating Easier Make the Healthy Choice Easier, Not Perfect Build Habits That Become Automatic Why Imperfection Is Key to Lasting Change 👩🏼‍💻 RESEARCH LINKS https://openresearch.surrey.ac.uk/esploro/outputs/journalArticle/How-are-habits-formed-Modelling-habit/99783513802346 https://pmc.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/articles/PMC6042864/ DISCLAIMER:The content in this episode is for educational and entertainment purposes only and is never a substitute for medical advice. If you’re struggling with with your mental or physical health, please work one on one with a health care provider. If you have heard yourself in our discussion today, and are looking for support, contact the free NEDIC helpline at 1-866-NEDIC-20 or go to eatingdisorderhope.com. — 📚 GRAB MY BOOK: The Hunger Crushing Combo Method ⤵️ Learn how to reach your healthiest weight without dieting using evidence based nutrition strategies. Amazon: https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/0306836793?tag=hacboogrosit-20 More purchase options: https://www.abbeyskitchen.com/hunger-crushing-combo/ 🎙 LISTEN TO BITE BACK WITH ABBEY SHARP ⤵️ Real conversations about nutrition, wellness, diet culture, parenting, and the biggest food debates. https://lnk.to/Bite-Back?utm_source=hoobe&utm_medium=social ⭐ Enjoying the podcast? Follow Bite Back on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, Amazon Music, or wherever you get your podcasts. If you're enjoying the show, leaving a rating or review really helps support it! ✉️ SUBSCRIBE TO MY NEWSLETTER https://abbeyskitchen.myflodesk.com/kd6ijl0y3e 🥞 FREE Hunger Crushing Combo™ E-Book https://www.abbeyskitchen.com/hunger-crushing-combo/ 💪 FREE Protein 101 Guide https://www.abbeyskitchen.com/protein-intake-recommendations/ 📖 MY FIRST COOKBOOK: The Mindful Glow Cookbook Amazon: https://amzn.to/2nev0lf 👩🏼‍💻 COACHING: 🍽️ Feeding Kids Without Diet Culture Webinar Raise confident eaters without food battles, guilt, or diet culture. https://www.abbeyskitchen.com/coaching/ 📈 Business Coaching Build and grow your online brand with proven social media and business strategies. https://www.abbeyskitchen.com/coaching/ 🤝 Personalized One-on-One Coaching Tailored support for content creation, business growth, podcasting, AI, brand partnerships, and more. https://www.abbeyskitchen.com/coaching/ 📱 FOLLOW ME @abbeysharprd Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/abbeysharprd TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@abbeysharprd Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/abbeysharprd Pinterest: https://ca.pinterest.com/abbeysharprd 🌐 VISIT MY WEBSITE Healthy recipes, nutrition resources, parenting advice, and evidence based articles. https://www.abbeyskitchen.com 💬 If you enjoyed this episode, please leave me a comment below with your thoughts and let me know what you'd like to see next! With Science & Sass, Xoxo Abbey 🌸 Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices